Children's Home run by Aspris Care North West Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report children’s home: 1254055 1 Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 30 October 2017

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This is the home’s second inspection following registration in August 2017. None of the young people who were living here at the last inspection have moved on, and there have been no new admissions. The consistency and stability which the young people experience have enabled them to consolidate the remarkable progress that they are making. The young people continue to achieve good outcomes. This is because positive relationships are established between the young people and the staff. The staff are extremely skilled in setting appropriate boundaries for the young people and they use humour and a calm manner to create a homely feel. This provides the young people with a sense of belonging and increases their confidence.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people continue to develop their friendships and are becoming more patient and understanding of each other. They share interests and are able to develop their Inspection report children’s home: 1254055 2 social skills through taking part in activities together. Staff support young people to express their interests and to develop their identities through attending sports clubs and hobbies, such as bike riding, football training, competitive football matches and attending premiership and championship football games.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported to have good-quality contact with family and friends on a regular basis. For example, all of the young people enjoyed their time spent with their parents, carers or extended family over the festive period.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation made in relation to young people’s education at the last inspection is now met. All of the young people are now making good progress in education. They all have excellent attendance at school and are making positive steps in their learning. The staff value young people’s education, and this is reflected in the time they spend with the young people engaging them in meaningful conversations as they return home from school. Staff continue to work closely with their education colleagues to ensure that a collective approach is taken, to maximise young people’s progress.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff provide one-to-one support and they provide a consistent therapeutic approach so that the young people develop a sense of safety, protection and trust in the staff who care for them. Comprehensive plans, compiled from a detailed assessment of young people’s needs, guide staff to provide personalised, targeted support. The organisation’s psychotherapist visits the home each week and young people are engaging in therapy. This ensures that the young people receive effective emotional support specific to their attachment needs. Young people have made significant progress in their behaviour. They are developing self-confidence and are more able to express their emotions appropriately.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Positive behaviour is encouraged by praise and appropriate reward. This has worked really well for the young people who have displayed challenging behaviours in previous placements. The fact that there have been no restraints since the home was registered and only one consequence imposed for inappropriate behaviour further highlights the very positive emotional development made by the young people.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people’s risk assessments are regularly updated and the staff demonstrate well the strategies they use to ensure that the young people remain safe. Records of key-working sessions, young people’s meetings and daily diary sheets reflect the efforts made by staff to engage young people. These records clearly evidence the progress that young people are making. Young people told the inspector that they feel safe in the home and that they have no complaints about the care they receive. The staff are trained in how to recognise, respond to and report any forms of abuse, and none of the young people are considered to be vulnerable or in danger of exploitation. There have been no significant events and the home is very settled.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

A missing-from-home coordinator visits the home regularly and has a good relationship with the young people and staff. She told the inspector, ‘This is one of the better homes and I have no concerns of any of the young people being absent or missing from the home.’ Records show that there have not been any absences or missing incidents by Inspection report children’s home: 1254055 3 young people from the time they came to live in the home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff demonstrate an excellent knowledge of all of the young people’s needs and how best to meet them. Monitoring of the home’s performance is undertaken on a regular basis, making use of consultation with other professionals. The young people’s social workers have responded positively in questionnaires completed and their views include:

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

 ‘The most positive aspect of the service is the nurturing and empathetic approach provided by the staff to the young people. This continuous support and activities ensure the young people feel listened to and this prevents them from becoming bored.’  ‘My young person has settled really well, and, despite him not wanting to reside in the care of the local authority, he appears to acknowledge that this is where he needs to be. He is provided with a safe and stable positive environment to encourage him to engage and make changes so that his future will allow him to achieve as he matures.’  ‘I really like the decoration of the home, the staff are extremely friendly and I feel the home is looking after my young person very well indeed. I am happy with the care provided. I am confident he would be able to voice any concerns to me.’  ‘The home has a homely feel rather than residential and the staff are friendly and

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

approachable. There is a very relaxed atmosphere in the home.’

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

An independent person visits the home each month and reports positively on how effectively the young people are safeguarded and how the conduct of the home supports the young people’s well-being. Partnership working is effective. The management team provides the commissioning team and placing authority with reports each month, showing the progress that the young people have and are making. These arrangements ensure that the standards in the home do not slip and that the young people are provided with a high level of support and care.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement made at the last inspection in relation to the home’s statement of purpose document is now met. Since the last inspection, the statement of purpose has been revised and updated. This now provides an accurate description of all the staff, their qualifications and experiences. The statement of purpose is available in the home and has been sent to Ofsted in line with regulation 16.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

No requirements or recommendations have been made at the inspection.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1254055 4

p.3

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.4

Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sandcastle Care Ltd

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 49 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 9DG

p.4

Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1254055 5 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.4

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.5